Leinster have too much in the tank for under-powered Castres

No Rory Kockott calling the shots at ten. No Remi Lamerat bursting through the centre. And no Ibrahim Diarra causing mayhem from the back row.

Matt O’Connor did his best to play down the Castres side for tomorrow’s Rugby Champions Cup pool game at the Stade Pierre Antoine, but he must have allowed himself a smile when he first scanned the opposing ranks.

Kockott, Lamerat and Diarra would have been the three chief dangers singled out had you asked any Leinster player or coach to do so, but the impression now is one of the French side mentally washing their hands of Europe.